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Adventures by Disney with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
This week for our special 300th episode, Deb Wills from AllEars.Net joins us to share her recent Adventures by Disney trip to Italy. Food, wine, fun, and friends! Plus a newsletter update, listener celebrations, and more!
Get Your Celebration On Air!Want to hear your celebration or special occasion announced on air! Just send the details, date, and the date you want it announced to firstname.lastname@example.com
This Week's Guest:Deb Wills -
Deb is the Founder of AllEars.net, the Internet's most comprehensive resource for Walt Disney World, as well as the Editor-In-Chief of All Ears®, the free weekly e-newsletter with over 143,000 subscribers. Deb is internationally recognized as an expert on Disney vacations. Deb is also a Breast Cancer survivor who is passionate about raising funds for local community-based programs for the underserved and research through her annual campaigns and Avon Breast Cancer Walks. Deb has been recognized as one of Avon's top fundraisers.
Praise:"Two moms, Jennifer and Sara, share tips and chat with friends and guests about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and general travel. So go get some coffee and listen to some of the best advice out there" -- The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids by Bob Sehlinger, Liliane J. Opsomer, and Len Testa
Named one of the "10 best Disney podcasts you should be listening to" by TheDisneyMovieNation.com
Listen to ALL of our Podcasts!
How to Say Good Bye
Shades of Green Resort
Toy Story Land Food Review with AJ Wolfe from Disney Food Blog
Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort
VidCon and Disneyland
Disney's Art of Animation Resort Review
Disney's Old Key West Resort Review
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa Review
Disneyland Paris
Our Top 5 Interactive Dining Experiences
Disney's All Star Resorts
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Our Top 5 Shows at Walt Disney World
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Our Top 5 Places to Visit That are NOT Disney
Jennifer's Recent Disney Cruise and Yacht Club Stay
Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Listener Question and Answer - Part 2
Listener Question and Answer - Part 1
Disney Food Blog Update - Spring Edition
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Romance at Walt Disney World
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Comparing Cruise Lines - Celebrity versus Disney Cruise Line
Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort and Villas
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Random Acts of Pixie Dust Round-up
Disney Updates and Review of Animal Kingdom Lodge
Holiday Disney Food and Tokyo Disneyland Update with AJ Wolfe
Our Top 5 Favorite Holiday Activities at Walt Disney World
Taking the Memories Home - Photography at Walt Disney World
The Tokyo Disneyland Resort with Sharla Manglass
A Quick Weekend Trip to Walt Disney World
Making the Most of Extra Enchantment - Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Jedi Training, and More!
Planning a First Visit to Disneyland
Hong Kong and China with Adventures by Disney
Planning a Last Minute Getaway to Walt Disney World
Money Saving Tips for Walt Disney World Vacations
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Disney Springs
Child Care Options at Walt Disney World
Our Top 10 Underappreciated Favorites at Walt Disney World
The 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival with AJ Wolfe
Tips for Planning a Surprise Trip to Walt Disney World
Our Top 5 Tips for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Secret Menu Items with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
Remembering Disney Attractions of Yesteryear
Ch-ch-ch-Changes - How to Handle Changes at Disney and During Your Trip
Our Top 5 Tips for Scheduling Your Disney Vacation
D23 Recap
If We Were Imagineers - Epcot
Answers to Your Disney Questions
D23 Expo Tips
Jennifer's Visit to Walt Disney World!
Our Top 5 Disney Memories
Disney Cruise Line Transatlantic Cruises with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
Pandora World of Avatar Review with Beci Mahnken from MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel
Our Top 5 Travel Apps
Do Less, Enjoy More - A Disney Way of Life (and Park Touring)
Answers to Your Disney Questions
Comparing Royal Caribbean with Disney Cruise Line
The Top Five Dining Mistakes Made By Walt Disney World Guests
The Dark Side Tastes Sweeter: Reviews of the Star Wars Dessert Party and the Rivers of Light Dining Package with Bernie Edwards
The Top 5 Biggest Mistakes Guests Make When Getting To, From, and Around Walt Disney World
The Top 5 Biggest Mistakes Guests Make When Touring the Parks
The Top 5 Biggest Mistakes First Time Disney Visitors (and even Veterans) Make
Disney Food Blog Review of Disneyland Food and Wine Festival and Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Disney Trips When You're Not 100%
Looking Forward to Summer 2017
Making the Most of a Long Weekend at Walt Disney World
Enjoying a Non-Park Disney Trip
Three Resorts, Two Destinations, One Fantastic Trip - Sara's Most Recent Trip to Orlando
Answers to Your Disney Questions
Our Favorite Attractions: Epcot
Our Favorite Attractions: Disney's Animal Kingdom
Special Needs at Disney - Choosing Between Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World
Our Favorite Attractions: Disney's Hollywood Studios
Our Favorite Attractions: Magic Kingdom
Souvenir Shopping at Disney
Looking Forward to 2017
Disney Cruise Line 101 - Port Adventures
Dining 101: Snacks at Walt Disney World
Last Minute Holiday Dining at Walt Disney World
Disney Dining 101: Quick Service Restaurants
PassPorter Author Dave Marx with Updates on the Disney Wonder
Adventures by Disney New York City Long Weekend
Surprising Your Family With A Disney Vacation
Solo at Disney with Ginger Jabour
FastPass+ Touring Strategies
Disneyland Update with PassPorter Co-Author Ginger Jabour
Disney Cruise Line: 101 Getting to and From Port Canaveral
What We Pack In Our Park Bags
Our 350th Episode Celebration!
More Disney We Haven't Done - Disneyland Edition
A 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview with Disney Food Blog
Everything We Love About Fall at Walt Disney World
Adventures by Disney River Cruising with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
The PassPorter Live! Guides
Disney News Round-Up
Disney Dining 101: Signature Dining Restaurants
Planning Your Vacation is Half the Fun
A Little Disney Every Day
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Universal Orlando
Disney Dining 101: Choosing Character Meals
Feeling Less Than Magical - What to Do When You Are Sick at Disney World
Disney Dining 101: Advanced Dining Reservations
Summer Awakens at Walt Disney World
Dining at Disney Springs with the Disney Food Blog
The Disney We Haven't Done Yet
Disney Food and Drink 'Crawls'
runDisney Recap - Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon with Bernie Edwards
Our Favorite Deluxe Villas Resorts at Walt Disney World
May the Fourth Be With You: Our Top 5 Star Wars Experiences at Disney Parks
Disney After Hours with Beci Mahnken from MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel
Disney Vacation Planning Tips with Disney 'Dad' Steve Cantafio
Our Favorite Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World
Creating the Magic with Lee Cockerell
The Top 5 Things at Disney Springs
How to Be a Polite Disney Park Guest
The Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens Review with AJ Wolfe
Jennifer and Sara's Excellent Adventures at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
The Star Wars Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
Princess Race Weekend Recap
Our Favorite Moderate Resorts at Walt Disney World
Princess Race Weekend Prep
Jennifer's Trip to Disneyland
Practical Parenting Tips on Traveling with Kids with Author Katie Hurley
Our Favorite Value Resorts at Walt Disney World
Getting Married at Disney with Author Carrie Hayward
Our Top 5 Tips on Saving Money for Your Disney Vacation
The PassPorter Moms 2016 Disney Resolutions
Disney Dining Update with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
What's New at Disneyland
More Magic For Kids - Activities and Extras Just for Kids at Walt Disney World
How to Avoid Comparing Other Vacations to Disney
Creating a runDisney Costume with Kimberly Markey and Gail Savidge
Our Top 5 Things We Are Thankful For at Disney
Universal Orlando versus Walt Disney World (Or Both!)
The Disney Magic Transatlantic Cruise with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
Six Parks, One Week - Sara's Trip to Orlando!
Tokyo Disney Resort with former Disney 'Mom' Bernie Edwards
Adventures by Disney with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
2015 Food and Wine Festival Review with Disney Food Blog
Disney Days Gone By - Part Two
Walt Disney World Days Gone By
Special Needs at Disney with Kathy Kelly of Special Mouse Podcast
The Story of Us - The History of PassPorter and the PassPorter Moms
'Suite Dreams' on the Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line 101 - Port Adventures
D23 Recap and Disney Dining News from Disney Food Blog
Disney Cruise Line 101 - Choosing a Stateroom
Training for Your First runDisney Race with Fitz Koehler
Our Top 5 Cool Summer Treats at Walt Disney World
D23 Expo Preview with Deb Wills from AllEar.Net
Registration for the Disney Princess 5k
Disney Cruise Line 101 - Choosing When & Where to Cruise
Frozen Summer Fun and Fourth of July with Deb Koma from AllEars.Net
Crowd Control - Handling Peak Season at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Dining Update with AJ Wolfe
Random Acts of Pixie Dust
Jennifer and Sara's Tips for Nighttime Spectacular Viewing
Disney On a Diet: How to Enjoy Your Disney Vacation Without Undoing Your Diet
The Top 5 Dates to Remember When Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation
Walt Disney World Prep School with Shannon Albert
Free Dining with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
Mothers Day at Walt Disney World
Listener Question and Answer
Jennifer's Trip to New York City
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Disney in the Spring
DisneyBound with Leslie Kay
Our Disney Vacation Traditions
TouringPlans.com with Len Testa
The Top 5 Things We Skip at Walt Disney World
Epic Disney Road Trip Report
Prepping for the Magic - Cars, Cruising and Disney World!
Disney Dining Update with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
Comparing the Disney Dream with Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
Disney Dream Review
Our Top 5 Vacation Mistakes
Disney Cruise Line with Disney Parks Moms Panelist Doug Ingersoll
Disney World After Dark
The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line with Erin Foster
Listener Q and A with the PassPorter Moms
Walt Disney World What Ifs with Jennifer and Sara
Run All the Races with Kimberley Markey
Budgeting for Your Disney Vacation
Packing Tips from the PassPorter Moms
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Epcot
Holiday Dining at Walt Disney World with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
PassPorter's Disney Weddings and Honeymoons Author Carrie Hayward
Author and Disney Parks Moms Panelist Doug Ingersoll
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Animal Kingdom
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Hollywood Studios
Disney Cruise Line Northern European Ports Preview
A Universal Orlando Review
Our Top 5 Favorite Things About the Magic Kingdom
Food and Wine Review with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
Memory Maker and PhotoPass
Food & Wine Preview with AJ Wolfe from Disney Food Blog
Our Top 5 Overlooked Attractions
PassPorter Moms Answer Your Questions
Avoiding Vacation Meltdowns at Disney
Disney Rumor Round Up
Hidden Mickey Guy - Steve Barrett
Let's Get Down to Disness with Kathleen Wolfe
Disney Days Gone By
PassPorter Moms Answer Listener Questions
Sensational Summer Snacks with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
PassPorter 101: Books, Websites, and the Message Board - Oh My!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, FastPass+ Changes and More from Sara's Trip to Walt Disney World
Photography Tips from Tim Devine, TheMagicInPixels.com
Keeping Kids Healthy While Traveling with Dr. Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH
Our Favorite Snack Options at Walt Disney World
Our Favorite Counter Service Options at Walt Disney World
Hong Kong and Tokyo Disney Theme Parks with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
Free Dining, Room Discounts, and more - How to Make the Most of Your Disney Vacation Budget
Disney Food News with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
Celebrations Magazine with Creator & Editor Tim Foster
Making the Most of Star Wars Weekends
Listener Questions
Why Disney Cruise Line?
Disney Vacation Club with Cheryl Pendry
Disney Cruise Line in 2015
Listener Q and A - Part 2!
Jennifer and Sara Answer YOUR Questions!
Disney Magic Kids Clubs and Grand Floridian Villa Review
Camping and Cruising, Disney Style!
Romantic Things to Do at Disney World
The Wild Africa Trek
Disney Dreaming - How Much is TOO Much?
Meet the WDW Happy Place Podcast
Our Top 10 Eats at Walt Disney World
Sara's runDisney Adventure
Getting Ready for a runDisney Race
What's New at Disney's Polynesian Resort with Tikiman Steve Seifert
A Few of Our Favorite Things From 2013
Making the Most of FastPass+ with Deb Koma from AllEars.Net
The Holidays at Disneyland
Disney World and DCL in 2014
Holiday Dining at Walt Disney World
Disney with Special Needs with Pilar Clark
Our 200th Episode with 200 Random Acts of Pixie Dust
The PassPorter Moms Visit to Walt Disney World Part 2
The PassPorter Moms Visit to Walt Disney World Part 1
Halloween Happenings
2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Review with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
My Disney Experience - Our Experience So Far
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World Author Bob Sehlinger
Our Top 5 Things We Can't Wait to Try
The Disneyland Story with Author Sam Gennawey
Planning the PassPorter Moms Trip to Disney
'Once Upon Your Time' Author Randy Crane
How to Help First Time Travelers to Disney
Our Top 5 Most Overlooked Resort Activities
D23 Expo Recap and Q&A
Disneyland Dreaming
Disney Food Blog Update with AJ Wolfe
2014 Packages at Walt Disney World - What's New, What's Changing
Top 5 Ways to Beat the Heat at Walt Disney World
Great Group Rates at Disney
The Mickey Miles Podcast with Michelle Scribner-Maclean
Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation
Our Top 5 Relaxing Moments at Disney
The Random Acts of Pixie Dust Project
Making the Most of Our Favorite Park - Epcot!
Making the Most of Disney's Hollywood Studios
Renting a Stroller at Walt Disney World with Orlando Stroller Rentals
Making the Most of Animal Kingdom
Making the Most of the Magic Kingdom
Disney Cruise Line Update
Epcot IS For Kids with AllEars.Net Blogger Kristin Ford
Gear-ing Up for Disney - What to Pack, What to Rent, and What to Order!
Disney History with Jim Korkis, author of "The Vault of Walt"
Disney Discounts - What, When, and Which is the best deal for you?
Epcot Flower and Garden Food Booths with AJ Wolfe from DisneyFoodBlog.com
Special Souvenirs from Walt Disney World
The Other Orlando - Islands of Adventure and LEGOLAND Florida
A Whole New 'World' of Technology with Lou Mongello
Walt Disney World, Universal, and More!
Travel Safely with Kids with Special Guest Jennifer Bright Reich
Disney Q&A with the PassPorter Moms
A Passion for Disney with The Minnie Minxes
Crowd Control - Making the Most of the Busy Season at Disney
Disney Cruise Line Review with Cheryl Pendry
Our Top 5 Favorite Disney Movies (and Where to Find the Characters!)
Adventures by Disney - Galapagos Islands with Sharla & Suzy from Mouse Fan Travel
What's New at Walt Disney World in 2013
What to Do When Things Go Wrong on Your Disney trip
The Holidays at Walt Disney World with AJ Wolfe from the Disney Food Blog
Q&A with the PassPorter Moms
The Holidays at Disneyland
Child Safety at Disney
The Walt Disney Family Museum with Disney Moms Panelist Bernie Edwards
The Week Before Your Walt Disney World Trip
The Walt Disney World Marathon and runDisney events with Team AllEars Runner Steve Cantafio
Our Disney Cruise Line Wish List - Where We Wish Disney Cruise Line Would Go Next
New Fantasyland Preview with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
If We Had a Million Dollars - Our Fantasy Disney Trips
The Walt Disney Moms Panel with Doug Ingersoll
Happy 30th Anniversary Epcot! Our Top 5 Favorites at Epcot
Adventures by Disney with Dotti Saroufim from MouseEarVacations.com
The Disneyland Resort
PassPorter's Disney Weddings and Honeymoons Author Carrie Hayward
2012 Food and Wine Festival with AJ Wolfe from Disney Food Blog
Disney Cruise Line for the Whole Family with Mary Kraemer from CruisingCo.com
Fun Fall Activities at Walt Disney World
Disney Vacation Club and Disney World for Brits Books
Dealing With Unwanted Disney Advice and Figuring Out What Works for Your Family
PassPorter's E-Books with E-Book Editor Carrie Hayward
Making the Most of Your Resort: Resort Activities
Taking Family to Disney World: The Dad and Chad Trip Report
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, with Heather Coursen
PassPorter's Disney 500: Fast Tips for Walt Disney World Trips
Cars Land Review with Deb Wills from AllEars.Net
Our World Showcase Wish List
Disney's Magical Express
Best Places to Grab a Bite Outside the Parks
Disney's Hollywood Studios Tips with Matt Hochberg from StudiosCentral.com and the WDW Today Podcast
Best Viewing Tips for Parades, Shows, and Fireworks
New PhotoPass Plus at Walt Disney World
Disney Cruise Line Dining Part Deux
Our Top 5 Places for a Drink at Disney World
Child Care Options at Walt Disney World
Disney Cruise Line Dining with Disney Food Blog
Off Site Vacation Rentals with Sara Moore from All Star Vacation Homes
The Disney Fantasy (Video Available)
Safari in South Africa - Adventures by Disney
Planning for Your Disney Cruise Vacation
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Traveling with Kids
runDisney and Team AllEars
Vow Renewal Options at Walt Disney World
10 Awesome Travel Tips
Finding Disney Information Online
Our Never-Done-at-Disney List
Disneyland and Los Angeles
Jennifer and Sara's Top 5 Must Dos in 2012
Disney Dining in 2012
Disney Trip Planning 101
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World with Doug Ingersoll
Our 100th Episode -- Do You Know Your PassPorter Mom Trivia?
Making the Most of the PassPorter's Club
A Brit Different Disney Chat with Craig Duncan from the Disney Brit Podcast
Thanksgiving with the PassPorter Moms
New Happenings In Orlando with Orlando Attractions Magazine
The Reluctant Mouseketeer
Holiday Dining at Disney
PassPorter's Walt Disney World Guide
Surprising Your Family With a Disney Trip!
LEGOLAND Florida
2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Aulani, Disney's Newest Resort
Photography Tips with Disney Moms Panelist Marc Lorenzo
Disney Cruise Line: Choosing a Cruise
Disneyland with the Disney Moms Panel Dads
The D23 Expo in Review
Social Media Tips for Planning Trips
Just Desserts with AJ Wolfe from Disney Food Blog
Making More Magic: Special Meals at Walt Disney World
Jennifer and Sara's Favorite Resorts
Disney Speed Planning with Justine Fellows
Disney Cruise or Disney Park? Tips For Choosing
Cruising to Alaska with Disney Moms Panelist Andi Sims
Holidays Around 'The World'
Dining at Disney with Kids
Walt Disney World Questions & Answers
Disney Dream Cruising with Cheryl Pendry
How to Beat the Heat at Disney
Orlando Balloon Rides
The Importance of Community
Dining at Disney
What We Dislike About Disney
The Good Enough Mother - Rene Syler
Hidden Mickeys with Steve Barrett
When to Visit Walt Disney World
Tracie Cook, Vacation Field Guides Author
Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2011
Ordeal in Cairo -- Cheryl Pendry's Experiences in Egypt
PassPorter Moms Do Epcot: A Video Podcast
Living the Suite Life on the Disney Dream
Planning a Last Minute Trip to Disney!
Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers
The Disney Dream - Part 2
Backstage Magic at Disney's Animal Kingdom - The Wild Africa Trek
Disney's Earmarked Travel Advisory Board
Cruisin' on the Dream with the PassPorter Moms
Disney Dream Christening Cruise
Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions: Sticking to Your Diet at Walt Disney World!
Our First Anniversary Episode with Deb Wills from AllEars.net
Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions: Staying on Budget at Walt Disney World!
Marine Life at Walt Disney World
Bring Disney Home for the Holidays
Relaxing in the Spas at Walt Disney World
Top 5 Tips for Traveling with Tots
Walt Disney World for Military Families
Walt Disney World with Tweens and Teens
Planning a Group Trip to Disney
Things to Do Without Park Admission
Favorite Resorts at Walt Disney World
Signature Dining at Walt Disney World
Holidays Around the World
Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups
Alexander & Ryan's Top 10 Rides for Kids
Former Disney Moms Panel Member Jackie Stevens
Working at Walt Disney World
Long Haul Disney Cruises -- When a 7-night Cruise Just Won't Do!
Get Your Disney Groove On with Sorcerer Radio
Flying Safe with CARES Creator Louise Stoll
The Disney Moms Panel Dads
Our Top 10 Favorite Snacks
Taking a Town Car to Walt Disney World
Top 10 Meals at Walt Disney World
Owner's Locker
Scrapbooking Your Disney Vacation
Keeping Kids Safe While Traveling
Top 10 Must-See Attractions
Visting Disneyland in Fabulous Sunny California
Walt Disney World with Special Needs
Feasting and Snacking Around The World
What's New in Orlando with Orlando Attractions Magazine
Finding Buried Treasure: Geocaching at Disney
Disney Vacation Club Membership Reselling and Renting
Interview with Former Cast Member Mike Demopoulos
Planning for a Summer Trip to Walt Disney World
Traveling the World
Interview with Lou Mongello of WDW Radio
Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania
The Art of Disney Podcasting
Disney Dreamin' - Preview of the New Disney Cruise Ship
To Rent or Not to Rent ... a Stroller!
Renting a Vacation Home
Deb Wills of AllEars.net
The Dish on Disney's Latest News
The School That Walt Built!
Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World
Disney Weddings & Honeymoons
Solo and So-Loving It!
More Days to Play!
Meet the PassPorter MomsGrab your mug and listen to travel tips, advice, and chat from PassPorter's Jennifer and Sara -- and their friends and guests -- about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and general travel. We are the PassPorter Moms!
Jennifer Marx is the author of dozens of PassPorter guidebooks, as well as webmistress of PassPorter.com. She is mom to 13-year-old Alexander, who has been to Disney World, Disneyland, and on the Disney Cruise so many times we've all lost count.
Sara Varney is the editor of PassPorter News and manager of the PassPorter's Club. She is also a travel planner for Mouse Fan Travel. Most importantly, she is Mom to her 13-year-old son Ryan, an experienced Disney traveler in his own right.


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text:
Social media raises concern about Disney trademark
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - When Lalo Alcaraz learned this week that Disney was seeking to trademark "Dia de los Muertos," the name of the traditional "Day of the Dead" celebrated by millions in Mexico and the U.S., the cartoonist had an idea.
The trademark was for an animated movie by Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Inc. that is inspired by the holiday.
The Los Angeles-based humorist created a movie poster that quickly went viral of a skeletal Godzilla-sized Mickey Mouse, with the words: "It's coming to trademark your cultura (culture)."
Anger and ridicule expressed on social media largely by Latinos began circulating. On Tuesday, Disney said it was no longer seeking a "Dia de los Muertos" trademark request because the film's name will change before its release.
"Disney's trademark filing was intended to protect any potential title for our film and related activities," a company statement said. "It has since been determined that the title of the film will change."
Disney has not said social media responses were responsible for the withdrawn trademark request.
Whatever the reason, the episode showed how quickly reactions to even the smallest corporate move can spread online and lead to calls for boycotts.
"It was not social media that started this. It was Disney that started this," said Tom Garrity, head of the Garrity Group, a public relations firm that advises companies on social media practices. "Social media only highlight the deficiencies in Disney's planning and what people saw as cultural insensitivity."
The Disney request momentarily replaced immigration as the hottest topic among Latinos on Twitter, said Elainne Ramos, vice chair of LATISM, a nonprofit group Latino social media group. She noticed the trend by monitoring posts on Twitter and had planned a live tweet town hall until the trademark request was withdrawn.
"Some people saw it as an attempt to own our culture and profit from it," she said.
Critics said they were concerned about the company attempt to trademark a cultural holiday like November's Day of the Dead and its history of trying to profit from cultural icons.
"This is a corporation that has consistently co-opted culture for profit," said Andrea Quijada, executive director of the Albuquerque-based Media Literacy Project, a group that focuses on media literacy and policy. "Just look at Pocahontas, Mulan, Jasmine," Quijada said, referring to characters from Disney films.
Not only was the move seen as insensitive, critics said, trademarking the popular holiday put thousands of businesses that made products linked to the day at risk. Disney had hoped to secure the naming rights for merchandise such as snack foods and Christmas ornaments.
"It's a terrible idea. I'm outraged," said Kiko Torres, owner of Masks y Mas in Albuquerque, a shop that sells Day of the Dead art and clothing year-round. "I mean, what's the purpose of that?"
The Day of the Dead honors departed souls of loved ones who are welcomed back for a few intimate hours. At burial sites or intricately built altars, photos of loved ones are centered on skeleton figurines, bright decorations, candles, candy and other offerings such as the favorite foods of the departed. Pre-Columbian in origin, many of the themes and rituals are mixtures of indigenous practices and Roman Catholicism.
In the last decade or so, this traditional Latin American holiday has spread throughout the U.S. along with migration from Mexico and other countries where it is observed.
Not only are U.S.-born Latinos adopting it, but various underground and artistic non-Latino groups have begun to mark the Nov. 1-2 holidays through colorful celebrations, parades, exhibits and even mixed martial arts fights.
Lois Zamora, a University of Houston English professor who has studied the Day of the Dead, said Disney's interest shows how much this once obscure holiday has grown in the U.S. But she said the trademark attempt was odd.
"Disney doesn't quite get it," Zamora said. "It would be like copyrighting 'Christmas or 'Easter' or, for that matter, 'Halloween.'"
Graham Harvey, owner of the Thibodaux, La.-based Matthew Media group, said the Disney flap should be a reminder that all companies should have social media strategy as part of their promotions, or face the wrath in real time if any promotion is controversial.
"Any company or organization that wants to protect its brand needs to understand the powerful, viral nature of social media," he said. "A backlash can occur in the blink of an eye."


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text:
Once again the Trove digitised newspapers have helped me out. A casual search of "Mortimer" in The Portland Guardian threw up the death notice of Henry Mortimer published on September 13, 1948. Henry Mortimer was the younger brother of Mary Mortimer, my gg-grandmother who married William Hadden. Henry was born at Cavendish in 1868 and married Sarah Ann Duggan in 1887. They had four children, Edwin, George, Queenie, and Lillian. Queenie died as a baby. In 1898, Sarah died leaving three children under 11. The following year Henry remarried to Florence May Hardy and they had a further eight children, Grace, Amy, Beryl, Lance, Gilbert, Gwenda, David, Frances. Florence died, in 1915, possibly as the result of the complications of childbirth as David was born in the same year. She was only 38.
Up to that point, I had found that of the female children, Lillian had married Leslie Quarrel, Grace married David Wilson, Amy married John Taggart, Beryl had passed away as a baby and I had not found a marriage for Gwenda.
When I found the notice, there were two things that stood out. Olive (Amy Olive on her birth record) was not married to John Taggart and Gwen was married. Olive was also known as June Olive just to complicate things. I had previously found her married name, Taggart, via the death records and on the Australian Electoral Rolls, where I found John William Taggart's full name. Who then was C. E. Cara?
Another search of the Australian Death indexes found Clarence Edgar Cara who died in 1947, while a further search of Trove found his notice of probate.
This was most interesting and lead me to the National Archives of Australia site to search naval records. I found him there as a member of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant. It shows Clarence was born on June 11, 1899 at Penzance, Cornwall (this brought visions of rollicking pirates!), and his wife was listed as June Olive Cara.
At the time of his enlistment in the Reserve, they were living at 65 Victoria Street, Sandringham. By the time he died in 1947 they had moved to 11 Ebden Avenue, Black Rock, where June later lived with John Taggart. It states that Clarence had died on April 6, 1947 but no reason was given except that Repatriation had accepted that his death was due to the war and that June would receive a pension.
A Google search of Clarence Cara found him on the Australian National Maritime Museum website. It listed the registration of Clarence's Certificate of Competency on December 31, 1920 in Adelaide.
I thought I would search Trove for John Taggart. I found his and June's engagement notice. June was proving she was not one to settle for the local Portland lads. Her fiancé was not just John William Taggart but Captain John William Cray-Taggart of London and Rangoon!
I also found two notices of Hotel transfer in The Argus. The first was the transfer of the license of the Yambuk Hotel to John and June in 1950 and the second was the transfer of licence for the same hotel in 1951 by Olive and John to Phillip Harrison. The 1954 Electoral Roll finds them at back at 11 Ebden Avenue, Black Rock and John's occupation was listed as Saloon keeper.
Gwendoline Lorna May Mortimer was and still remains difficult to find. She was born in Hamilton in 1908. My next encounter with her was the 1931 census, where she was living at the Homeopathic Hospital in South Melbourne which in 1934 became Prince Henry's Hospital. Her occupation was home duties.
Henry's death notice gave the lead to the surname Bos. I found Gwen on the 1942 Electoral Roll living in Brighton but no other person with the name Bos at the address. Again in 1954, she is the only Bos living at 24 Spencer Road, Killara, New South Wales. There are, however, others with the Bos name living in the area. After searching death records, Trove, and WW2 records, I still have not found Mr A. Bos. I am suspecting that he may not have enrolled to vote. I am leaning toward an Abel Bos who died in Victoria in 1970. I have not been able to find Gwen's passing. But the search continues.
Without Henry Mortimer's death notice, I would not have discovered much of this. I would not have known of June's (Olive, Amy) first marriage or of Gwen's marriage to Mr Bos. Aside from this Henry's notice offers the place of residence for his children at the time of his death and names of his grandchildren and great children that would have been difficult to find otherwise. From this information, further searching of the newspapers has given me leads to Naval and hotel records and more. Thanks again Trove!


text:
Abraham Lincoln returned to form Sunday at Nationals Park — cheating form, that is.
In a race more fitting for a roller derby, "Honest" Abe took out George Washington with an anabashed body check along the outfield wall, clearing a path to victory after Thomas Jefferson had taken out Teddy Roosevelt in similar fashion. As has become the custom, corrupt race judge Screech turned a cheek and failed to disqualify Lincoln.
Abe's third victory in the last four races helped Lincoln keep pace with season leader Washington as the team hits the road for the week.
Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome


text:
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text:
I arrived back home from extended travel in January, that was 6 months ago, now I'm sleeping in the same bed every night. My days and weeks have become structured. I have enjoyed watching the garden change through the seasons. See the garden in its summer glory here. It is now mid-winter, but in Queensland that means slightly cooler days and nights and no humidity, ideal for working in the garden.
Back in January I planted vegetables and tomatoes in pots.
The tomatoes have done very well and kept us in a steady supply.
But, annoyingly, the birds also found them. A bird net over them solved that problem.
I keep the salad greens and herbs in pots so I can move them around to follow the sun. They are now down the far end of the garden in a sheltered area, protected from the winter winds, and they get all day sun.
The raised bed for herbs, in the front garden keeps on keeping on.
So that is my vegetable supply and my entry into Jude's (earth laughs in flowers) weekly/monthly garden photography challenge and for July the theme is "the edible garden"
But while you are here I will take you for a garden walk to see what is happening in July in my garden.
Today winter has arrived it is a rather grey and dismal sort of day, showers are forecast and the temperature is only about 18c degrees, but until this week we have had some warm sunny days and this flowering shrub is bursting into flower. I inherited this shrub when I moved in and don't know its name but it has a most beautiful soft scent and flowers twice during the year.
I wonder if you remember the bat plant, the most unusual plant in my garden (see it here) It is a true tropical plant and look at it now.
It certainly does not like the cooler temperatures. (this is for you Sue)
The compost bin is full and quietly decomposing. It has been a busy time of pruning and mulching as this year there has been plenty of rain and the growth has been phenomenal.
After that wander around the garden I would like to invite you inside ( joining Ailsa's Travel Theme, Indoors), through my front door. (Joining Norm's "Thursday Doors" challenge)
Come into my very untidy "studio". That is possibly a rather pretentious term for where I now like to indulge in my new passion.
So for a while I am going to be loving and leaving you all.
I took my first tentative steps into the virtual world of the blogosphere in 2009. Since then it has become a major part of my life, journaling my daily and weekly happenings, joining in challenges, searching through thousands of photos in my archives to find the perfect submission for the themes. Taking photos with the ever-present thought of "will that be suitable for a post", and, of course, making many dear friends from all over the world in this wonderful virtual world of Word Press. Enjoying the connection of "chatting" and commenting with other bloggers and the community spirit of friendship.
Now I want to take a break, spend more time practising art, trying and learning new techniques. Immersing myself in the flow of creativity, reading more books and of course spending time in the garden.
I'm sure I am going to have withdrawal symptoms, 7 years of regular posts is a major commitment, so I will occasionally pop by to say "G'day" and keep in touch with my blogging buddies.
The hammock hangs forlorn and unused waiting for summer.
Maybe I will find time to do some house-work, but I will not disturb this spider I think they do a good job of catching mosquitoes.
So that's it for now. I hope you all have a really great weekend. Bye for now…


text:
Niners fend off Falcons for NFC title, ticket to Super Bowl
Frank Gore ran for a pair of second-half touchdowns and the 49ers rebounded from a 17-0 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 28-24, in the NFC championship game Sunday, sending San Francisco to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995.
The top-seeded Falcons (14-4) tried to pull out another season-saving drive at the end, but Matt Ryan's fourth-down pass for Roddy White with 1:13 remaining was knocked down by San Francisco linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
The 49ers (13-4-1) will meet the winner of the AFC title game between New England and Baltimore. San Francisco will be trying to join Pittsburgh as the only teams with six Super Bowl championships.
The victory was sweet redemption for the 49ers, who lost an overtime thriller to the New York Giants a year ago in the NFC title game.
The 49ers pulled off the biggest comeback victory in an NFC championship game, according to STATS. The previous NFC record was 13 points — Atlanta's victory over Minnesota in the 1999 title game, which sent the Falcons to what remains the only Super Bowl in franchise history.
In the AFC, the record is 18 points, when Indianapolis rallied New England in 2007.
Gore's 9-yard run midway through the fourth quarter completed the comeback from a 17-0 first-half deficit. The run came at the end of a short 38-yard drive set up by Ted Ginn Jr.'s 20-yard punt return.
Gore had a 5-yard touchdown run to cap an 82-yard drive to open the second half.
The high-scoring pace of the first half continued as the 49ers began their run of points. Colin Kaepernick had passes of 21 and 17 yards to Randy Moss in the drive. The 17-yarder moved the 49ers to the Falcons 5, setting up Gore's scoring run.
Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes in the first half, including a 10-yard toss to Tony Gonzalez with 25 seconds remaining in the half. The score answered San Francisco's two straight touchdowns as Atlanta led 24-14 at halftime.
Ryan also threw touchdown passes of 20 and 46 yards to Julio Jones.
Ryan was hurt by two third-quarter turnovers. His pass for Roddy White was intercepted by cornerback Chris Culliver early in the third quarter. The 49ers couldn't take advantage of the game's first turnover when David Akers' try for a 38-yard field goal hit the left upright.
Later in the third quarter, Ryan fumbled a shotgun snap. Again the 49ers were denied when receiver Michael Crabtree fumbled at the goal line when stripped by Dunta Robinson. William Moore helped on the hit and Stephen Nicholas was credited with the recovery.
The Falcons led 17-0 following Ryan's 20-yard touchdown pass to Jones on the first play of the second quarter.
Kaepernick threw a 4-yard scoring pass to tight end Vernon Davis and LaMichael James had a 15-yard touchdown run as the 49ers charged back.
Trailing 17-0, the 49ers answered with a long drive that consumed almost 7 minutes. The drive began with four straight runs by Gore.
On third-and-7 from the Falcons 42, Kaepernick completed a 27-yard pass to Davis to the 15. Following an incomplete pass on first down, James ran right behind a block by Davis for the touchdown.
The 49ers then went on an 82-yard touchdown drive. Big plays included Kaepernick's 19-yard pass to Davis and a 23-yard run by the dual-threat quarterback.
Falcons linebacker Nicholas helped the 49ers with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
On first down from the Falcons 4, Kaepernick rolled right before throwing to Davis for the touchdown.
Ryan opened the game with three straight scoring drives, including two touchdown passes to Jones. Ryan capped the Falcons' opening drive with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jones.
Matt Bryant's 35-yard field goal capped the Falcons' second drive.
Ryan moved the Falcons 80 yards on seven plays on Atlanta's opening drive. Ryan completed passes of 13 yards to Jones and 16 yards to White on the drive.
On second-and-9 from the 49ers 46, Ryan faked a handoff to Jacquizz Rodgers. San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson bit on the fake, allowing Jones to run past Goldson. Jones was open for the deep pass as safety Donte Whitner trailed on the play.
Ryan completed a 27-yard pass to Jones to set up Bryant's field goal to end the Falcons' second drive. Jones beat Goldson on the catch.
On the first play of the second quarter, Ryan threw to Jones in the left corner of the end zone. Jones was closely covered by 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown. Jones made the catch over Brown and then looked down as he made sure he touched the end zone with both feet.
Jones' second foot was close to the back of the end zone, but the officials' review confirmed the touchdown.
Ryan completed 18 of 24 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the half. Jones had seven catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons had a strong start for the second straight week of the postseason. They led Seattle 20-0 at halftime in last week's divisional playoff game and lost the lead before winning 30-28.


text:
|Specs at a glance: 13-inch 2013 Apple MacBook Air
|1440×900 at 13.3" (128 PPI)
|OS X 10.8.4 "Mountain Lion"
|1.3GHz Intel Core i5-4250U (Turbo up to 2.6GHz)
|8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 (non-upgradeable)
|Intel HD Graphics 5000 (integrated)
|128GB solid-state drive
|802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0
|2x USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, card reader, headphones
|12.8" × 8.94" × 0.68" (325 mm × 227 mm × 17 mm)
|2.96 lbs (1.35 kg)
|7150 mAh
|1 year
|Starting price
|Price as reviewed
|Other perks
|Webcam, backlit keyboard, dual integrated mics
While many PC makers introduce new or tweaked laptop designs just about every year, Apple tends to stick with the same design for a few years before changing everything all at once to reflect changes in internal hardware (the move from HDDs to SSDs, for example) and evolving design tastes (the move across the lineup to aluminum unibody chassis). 2013's MacBook Air retains the same basic design that the laptops have used since their late-2010 rebirth, when Apple refined the design of the existing 13-inch Air and introduced the 11-inch model.
Set the brand-new Airs on a table next to last year's models and it's unlikely anyone could tell the difference. Even changes to the speeds of the I/O ports, like what happened in 2011 with the addition of Thunderbolt and in 2012 with the addition of USB 3.0, aren't here to convince would-be upgraders. Everything that's new about the 2013 Air is hidden away inside the laptop. While no one thing will convince 2011 or 2012 Air users to upgrade, the year-to-year improvements are still impressive when taken as a whole.
For the bulk of this review, we'll be comparing the entry-level 13-inch 2013 MacBook Air to the equivalent 2012 MacBook Air. Both laptops' 4GB of RAM have been upgraded to 8GB of RAM—$100 is a bit steep for this sort of upgrade, but since the MacBook Air's RAM is soldered to the motherboard, this is an upgrade most of you will probably want to make. The 11-inch MacBook Air shares all of the same internal specs as the 13-inch model (with the exception of the battery), so most of the observations here will also apply to the smaller model.
This also serves as our first hands-on look at Intel's new Haswell CPUs, the new integrated Intel HD 5000 GPU, and 802.11ac (aka Gigabit Wi-Fi), so it will be a bit more benchmark-heavy than some of our other laptop reviews. We'll leave no stone unturned, because many of the upgraded technologies in this year's Air will be making it out to most other Ultrabooks as the year rolls on.
Body and build quality; ports and screen
The short version: There's nothing to see here. Everything is the same as last year except for the dual-mic pinholes on the laptop's left side. They are of dubious benefit to audio and dictation quality.
The long version: As we said, there's not much to distinguish the shell of the 2013 Air from previous models. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. It still has the same tapered aluminum chassis, the same 0.68-inch thickness (at the back, which is the thickest point), and the same 2.96 pounds (2.38 pounds for the 11-inch model) as last year. The sole physical change to last year's model is the two pinholes on the laptop's left-hand side to accommodate the dual microphones.
These two microphones are supposed to reduce noise compared to the single-mic setup in previous models, and to test this out we did the same thing we did when we reviewed the 2012 iMac: we set the new model and the old model side-by-side and talked to them. First, we recorded some audio in Audacity to check volume and noise levels, and then we used OS X 10.8's dictation feature to read this paragraph aloud and turn it into text (note that we didn't read any punctuation aloud as we dictated to the computers).
The results aren't quite as drastic as they were in the 2012 iMac. The audio recording on the 2013 model was, in general, a bit quieter than the 2012 model. You could hear less background noise, but my voice also wasn't as loud. Both had fairly significant issues with dictation using the built-in microphone, indenting twice when they shouldn't have and just generally misinterpreting words. The 2013 may have been slightly more accurate, but it still misses a whole bunch. You'll still want a good headset for talking to your Mac.
The port selection and layout are the same as last year: MagSafe 2, one USB 3.0 port, and a headphone jack on the left; one USB 3.0 port and one Thunderbolt port on the right (plus an SD card slot with the 13-inch model).
The screens are also the same as in previous models—the 11.6-inch model has a 1366×768 (136 PPI) display, while the 13.3-inch has a 1440×900 (128 PPI) display. Those hoping for Retina displays in this year's Airs will be disappointed by this refresh. While Haswell's battery life and graphics improvements would likely make a Retina screen possible in this form factor (competitors like Toshiba are already fitting high-res screens into similar products), Apple instead opted to keep the display (and chassis) the same to pump up battery life and graphics performance at the panel's native resolution.
The screen's quality is still pretty good. Colors are bright and horizontal viewing angles are acceptable, but vertical viewing angles aren't fantastic. The colors shift if you view the screen from above. The display isn't bad, and I certainly notice "Retina"-level pixel densities more on small screens like phones and tablets than I do in laptops. Still, it's worth noting that some of the PC makers are shipping Ultrabooks in this price bracket with higher resolution IPS panels with better viewing angles.
Another potential sticking point for some buyers may be the Air's continued lack of a touchscreen. However, Apple's desktop operating system is not exactly finger-friendly, so there wouldn't be much of a point unless you intend to buy the Air just to run Windows 8 on it. For its part, Apple seems content to let the large, accurate multitouch trackpad handle all of the gesture support in OS X. It works just as well as ever.
Even the laptop's heat and fan noise is mostly unchanged from the prior year's model. The MacBook Air's fan is normally near-silent, but it can ramp up to a dull whine when the laptop is under load. The laptop really only gets hot when it's under heavy load, and then it's mostly in the corner near the MagSafe 2 connector (around where the CPU is located on the logic board).


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Lady Dawgs stumble against Panthers
The Ionia girls basketball team looked to avenge an early-season loss to DeWitt Friday night as both teams began the second half of Capital Area Activities Conference Red play.
The Bulldogs trailed by six at halftime, but the Panthers kicked off the third quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 37-19 lead and never looked back as they handed Ionia a 51-36 defeat.
After a strong showing against Lansing Catholic on Tuesday, Bulldog coach Andy Barr said he felt good about the way his players were moving the ball and playing solid team basketball.
However on Friday, that wasn't the case.
"Right now we are disappointed with the loss. We didn't play as well as a team as we did Tuesday," he said. "DeWitt is a good team and their defensive pressure didn't help, but we need to be better as a team moving the ball on offense."
DeWitt opened the scoring with a 6-0 run in the first quarter as the Bulldogs struggled to make baskets early. However, the Lady Dawgs were able to storm back by outscoring the Panthers 6-3 over the final three minutes of play to make it a 9-6 game after one.
Taylor Bovee scored five points early as the Bulldogs took an 11-10 lead, but the Panthers answered with an 11-0 run to take the lead, but Ionia again rallied to make it a 25-19 game at the half.
Taylor Bovee led Ionia with 11 points and four assists. Joanna Miller finished with six points and Megan Nickell scored five.
Ionia (7-5, 3-3 in CAAC Red) will play host to county rival Belding Tuesday night in non-conference action.


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The Famous Shamrock Hotel is now in the UH Digital Library!
Please enjoy an interesting look at one of Houston's landmark hotels–The Shamrock Hotel!
The Shamrock Collection in the UH Digital Library consists of menus from the many restaurants, bars and lounges in the hotel, staff newsletters, and promotional pamphlets. It chronicles the transition of ownership and highlights of the hotel's golden years.
The Shamrock Hotel was the grandest hotel in the city of Houston from 1949 until its decline and demolition in 1987. Built by Glenn McCarthy (wildcatter and oil tycoon) between 1946 and 1949, it opened with great fanfare. Three thousand dignitaries, celebrities and the socially prominent were present for its grand opening on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1949, attended by no less than Errol Flynn, Ginger Rogers and Robert Preston. The partygoers were brought in on a customized Boeing 307 Stratoliner and by a Santa Fe Super Chief train specially chartered by McCarthy. Approximately 50,000 people gathered outside of the hotel.
While the hotel was immense, expensive and lavish, it was also considered by many to be garish and more than a little over the top.
The hotel became a destination for Houstonians and played host to numerous social events such as debutante balls, receptions, business meetings, presidential visits and visits from other heads of state. The Shamrock hosted cattle auctions and also was a gathering spot for the Houston Rodeo.
The hotel had 1,100 rooms and many restaurants, bars and lounges. Those who swam in the hotel's huge swimming pool, which measured 165 by 142 feet, remember it fondly. The swimming pool even hosted water skiing exhibitions, complete with motorboats.
The Hilton Hotels Corporation acquired the Shamrock Hotel in 1954. Burdened with a poor location, burgeoning competition and stagnant occupancy rates, its popularity declined. The hotel described in Edna Ferber's novel Giant as the "Conquistador," which saw performers such as Dorothy Lamour and Frank Sinatra grace its clubs, never fulfilled McCarthy's vision of a destination resort, conference and shopping center.
"Let us consecrate THE SHAMROCK to friendship – the motto of the State of Texas….May that motto be alive here as long as THE SHAMROCK is privileged to serve the great city of Houston as its ambassador of good will to the world." – Glenn McCarthy
The Digital Services department at the M.D. Anderson Library would like to extend a huge thank you to Mark Young at the Hospitality Industry Archives, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management, University of Houston, for his generosity and helpfulness in bringing this collection to the Digital Library.
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The oddball
JavaScript is a funny little language. Languages which buck trends rarely flourish, and though JavaScript mostly has the syntax and structure of a conventional, C-family programming language, the way it actually works is quite unusual. It's an object-oriented language, but instead of using classes, it has only objects and prototypes. (Classes are cookie cutters that can be used to stamp out a whole set of objects that all have the same behavior. To create multiple objects with identical behavior in JavaScript and other prototype-based languages, you take an object with the behavior you want and clone it.)
Every other object-oriented language in widespread use sticks to classes. Widespread variations do exist—classes in, say, C++ or Java are static, defined at compilation time, and can never change during the execution of a program, whereas those in Python or Ruby can be modified by a running program—but the use of classes is a constant.
I feel the need
Probably the biggest single advance is the use of JIT compilation instead of interpretation. JIT compilers generate small fragments of native code so that script programs are compiled in a piecemeal fashion. When it comes to performance, JavaScript engines are some of the most advanced scripting runtimes around—generally being much faster than perl, Python, or Ruby.
But there's a big difference between "the fastest scripting language" and just plain "fast." Compared to traditional compiled languages like C++ or Fortran, or even JIT-compiled safe languages like C# and Java, JavaScript's performance looks a lot less impressive. For all the time, money, and effort that has been poured into JavaScript engines, JavaScript programs still perform at a huge disadvantage relative to those built with typical desktop development tools.
Writing a high performance scripting engine is hard to do—and writing a high performance JavaScript engine is particularly challenging. One of the things that makes it difficult is the use of prototypes instead of classes. With a class-based language, every single instance of that class has the same behavior: the same set of fields to store data and the same set of methods to perform actions. The scripting engine need only generate optimized executable code for that class once and it can then be used for every single instance of that code. Even in languages like Python, where modifications to the class can be made at runtime, the amount of code generation is limited; a modification might force the engine to throw away all the executable code it has generated so far and create new code, but that code is still shared by every instance of the class.
This approach allows very fast code to be generated. As an example, consider the simple case of accessing a field in an object. With an old-fashioned interpreted scripting engine, this might be accomplished by looking inside a dictionary mapping from field names to field values—a slow, expensive operation. With a traditional compiled language, the compiler will lay out all the fields of a class in a particular order and it will know the exact position of each field; accessing the field then becomes as quick as reading a value from memory. The position of the field will be the same for every single instance of the class, so the native code can be very simple and very fast.
In JavaScript, that's much harder to do; there are no real classes, so there's much less scope for easily sharing generated code. The overhead of generating this code will often outweigh the performance improvement that code generation provides; if you can't share the native code between lots of objects, you're often better off using the slow dictionary lookup. V8 (and the Firefox engine and, I believe, other high-performance JavaScript engines) tries to remedy this problem by generating synthetic hidden classes, which can then be shared among multiple object instances.
This works well, to a point—the modern JavaScript engines are faster than their counterparts in other languages—but it's nonetheless complex. And it's a complexity that languages with explicitly defined classes don't have to handle.
Giving developers what they want
Prototypes have also proven to be a mixed blessing for developers. Prototype-based languages are academically interesting, but it's fair to say that they've lost the battle for mainstream acceptance (if they ever really fought it). Class-based languages are taught in schools and in universities now; they're what most of the object-oriented literature and research focuses on. They're the mainstream. Developers want to use their class-based knowledge and techniques, but JavaScript doesn't directly support that. In response, many of the widely used JavaScript libraries include their own emulation of class-based objects. With classes baked directly into the language, both JavaScript engines and libraries would be easier to develop, easier to use, and faster.
The use of prototypes isn't the only thing that makes JavaScript complex, but it's probably the biggest single issue. And significantly, it's arguably also the most discardable one. If neither users of the language nor developers of engines really want prototypes, perhaps the language shouldn't be built around them after all.
JavaScript also has features (or, more commonly, it lacks features) that make development of large applications somewhat more challenging than they might be in other languages. Some of these are minor grievances—the way variable scope works, for example. Others are a bit more significant; for example, JavaScript has no built-in module system. This is a particular annoyance for programs that depend on third-party libraries, since they have no good way of ensuring that library A won't conflict somehow with library B (for example, both libraries might try to create objects with the same name).
JavaScript also lacks any kind of static typing. This is not at all unusual; dynamic typing is a feature of most scripting languages, and in this sense JavaScript is thoroughly conventional. With static typing, every variable or field has a singular, well-defined type (say, "number" or "string" or "file"). It can only store objects of that type, and the compiler will complain before you even try to run the code if you try to do something that the type cannot do—for example, if you try to divide a string by a file, or add a network socket to an integer. With dynamic typing, that's no longer the case. Variables and fields can store values of any type, and the scripting engine will only complain if it simply can't figure out what to do at runtime.
Opinions vary wildly on which approach is better. Dynamic typing tends to be easier to use and less verbose, because programmers don't need to specify type information at all. Dynamically typed languages have much of the power of interfaces, templates, and generics without ever having to suffer the complexity of those mechanisms. But static typing has its advantages, too. Detecting errors at compile time, rather than having them blow up in the user's face at runtime, is greatly preferable. Fixed knowledge of the types used in a program makes it easier to generate fast code, too. Static typing also tends to make it easier to answer questions about the code, such as "show me every part of the program that uses this class." This can be a boon to maintenance; it makes refactoring much simpler and safer.
Not everyone will agree that every JavaScript issue is a real problem. The language has its fans, though it's certainly not the case that everyone who uses it actually likes it. But everyone who uses it must surely acknowledge that some of these things are problems, even if minor ones. Some problems, such as the small built-in library and the lack of module system, can be solved with a combination of policy and third-party code. People may prefer classes to prototypes, but prototypes can be used to implement class-like systems anyway. The dynamic typing versus static typing question will never be resolved, as there's no right answer, but there's a sizeable minority at least who would prefer some kind of static typing to be possible.
The importance of Web scripting is unlikely to diminish any time soon. Web programs are only going to grow in scope and complexity. The case in favor of making the Web's scripting language better—easier to run at high speed, easier to develop, easier to test—is therefore compelling.
Hence Google's new language, Dart.


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Home Help: Proper maintenance keeps homes warm
Tip of the Week
When the temperatures drop, the last thing you need is for your heating or plumbing system to act up. Some basic maintenance can help to ensure your home plumbing and heating systems are functioning properly.
A regular maintenance schedule helps protect you against system or appliance failures that leave you with a crisis requiring urgent - and potentially very costly - solutions.
To help protect your home during the cold winter months, American Home Shield, one of the nation's leading providers of home warranty services, shares some tips for making sure your heating unit and plumbing system are in good condition to handle extreme temperatures:
- Check filters every month.
- Make sure floor vents are not blocked to ensure clear air flow.
- Visually inspect exhaust vent for rust, damage or deterioration.
- Be familiar with the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations for your specific unit. This information is typically available online and in your owner's guide.
- Only flush toilet paper down a toilet.
- Maintain water softener according to manufacturer's recommendations.
- Water filters and icemaker filters should be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Avoid using your garbage disposal if you're on a septic system.
- Drain sediment from water heater tank according to manufacturer's recommendations.
- If you aren't familiar, locate your master valve so you can quickly turn your home's water off if a line breaks. In most homes, the valve is located near the water heater, the clothes washer, or where the water service line enters your home.
- Check the hose bibs to clothes washers to ensure they are tightly connected to minimize leaks and overuse of the system.
Taking these steps can help keep your home systems in good working order throughout the winter. But not everyone has the time or skills to do the maintenance required.
A professional preventative maintenance program can be a time- and money-saver for homeowners. Quality service providers perform a thorough check of your home's systems and appliances to help ensure they are operating efficiently.
To learn more about preventive maintenance recommendations for your home's systems and appliances, visit www.ahspm.com.
-- Family Features
Home-Selling Tip: Open house party
According to FrontDoor.com, some sellers are distinguishing their open houses from others on a saturated market by putting out wine and snacks, setting up door prize drawings, and using music to create a fun-filled mood. This can increase buzz about the house for sale, encourage more prospective buyers to stop by and ensure those who stop by will remember the house.
Did You Know ...
A recent study by researchers from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, found that many vacuums - especially older models - suspend harmful allergen particles in the air, increasing our exposure to them. If you have an older vacuum, consider upgrading to a new one with a HEPA (High-Efficiency-Particulate-Air) filter, which releases less dirt and bacteria into the air than a standard model.
-- Brandpoint
Decorating Tip: Wallpaper you can change to match your mood
Repositionable wallpaper is a decorating mainstay, says Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way, whose website, www.muralsyourway.com, is the top online destination for wall murals worldwide. The company's10 collections of peel-and-stick wallpaper are available in such themes as Vintage, Dots, Flower Prints and Mostly Modern, and can be removed and reused hundreds of times without losing their adhering qualities. Because the company offers color matching, customers can match their repositionable wallpaper to an existing paint color, or updated decor.
-- Brandpoint
Garden Guide: Homemade plant decorations make great gifts
Colorful decorations poking up between your plants will not only add sparkle, but they can also help to identify what you have planted, like a label. This project takes one hour to complete. This is a great project for kids, with adult supervision.
Materials Needed:
clean foil containers
black marker
colored markers
kebab sticks
1. Place your design onto the base of a foil container, using a black marker. Consider a few fun ideas for your design. You could choose bugs, flowers and birds.
2. Cut around the outline of your design.
3.Press a pen onto the foil shape. This will make decorative, raised holes. Color your design with colored permanent markers. Be sure to allow enough time to let the ink dry.
GateHouse News Service


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The Nationals will offer a new menu item at Nationals Park in 2012: an 8-pound cheeseburger dubbed the "StrasBurger."
As announced by the Nationals and first reported by Dan Steinberg over at the Post this afternoon, the burger will be available at the Red Porch restaurant in the centerfield plaza.
The Nationals said the burger weighs eight pounds total including toppings, and is made from a combination of ground brisket, chuck and short ribs:
"The burger is served on a large burger bun with our secret sauce, American cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, pickle chips and served with a cone basket of fresh cut fries and a pitcher of your choice of soft drink. This signature dish is the perfect entrée to share at this affordably-priced family restaurant."
This is the first time we've seen the Nats pitch the Red Loft as an "affordable family restaurant." The price hasn't been disclosed, but if you're willing to share, it will likely be a value. An eight pound burger should be able to feed multiple families.
The new item builds on the appeal of the "Victory Knot," the two-pound pretzel built for sharing that has been available at the Red Loft for the past two seasons. All we need now is a 200-ounce beer and Nats fans will have a value meal for the ages.
The Nationals also announced that the "Taste of the Majors" concession stand behind section 117 will once again get a revamped menu — a seemingly annual tradition. And once again, the team is attempting to do a better job of delivering on the original concept. That is, the stand will have a constantly-changing menu with a dish from visiting team's city, available during that series only.
It's a fun concept that's hard to execute, but like they say, maybe the fourth time's the charm. Let's check out what they have in store for the Nationals' 2012 season:
Atlanta: Smothered Fried Chicken Platter
Baltimore: Baltimore Pit Beef Sandwich Platter
Arizona: Arizona Dog Platter
Chicago: Chicago Dog Platter
Cincinnati: 5-Way Cincinnati Chili
Colorado: Colorado 'Mile High' Burger
Houston: Houston Nacho
Los Angeles: L.A. Dog Platter
Miami: Miami Cuban Dog
Milwaukee: Milwaukee Beer Brat Platter
New York (Mets and Yankees): Coney Dog Platter
Philadelphia: Philly Chicken Cheese Steak Platter
Pittsburgh: Pitts Burger Platter
St. Louis: BBQ Rib Platter
San Diego: San Diego Fish Taco Platter
San Francisco: San Fran Garlic Fries and Shrimp Platter
Tampa Bay: Tampa Salty Dog Platter
Hmm… Kudos to the Nationals and Levy Restaurant Group for continuing to try to make this concept work, but with more than half of the "regional specialties" listed as burgers or dogs, they might still have some work to do.


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Yreka City Council proposes new sports complex
YREKA – The Yreka City Council is setting the wheels in motion for the construction of a multi-purpose sports complex in the Golden City, and its members are seeking input from the citizenry to determine the community interest in this project.
Council members voted unanimously at their March 7 meeting to direct city staff to study the cost and overall feasibility of constructing such a facility.
Councilman Rob Bicego said he introduced this concept for council review after having several discussions with his constituents about the potential benefits of a sports complex in the city of Yreka.
"A sports complex would allow the citizenry to have a place for gatherings in a competitive, fun and healthy outdoor environment all while attracting tourism," said Bicego.
While the concept is still in the discussion phase, Bicego said he hopes for the complex to be designed similarly to the US Cellular Community Park in Phoenix, Ore.
He envisions an artificial turf, four-field complex arranged in a circle with restrooms and a snack shack in the center. Service organizations could volunteer to staff the snack shack during sporting events and share the profits with the city.
The fields could have movable mounds and fencing to accommodate both adult and youth sporting events such as baseball, softball, field hockey, soccer and rugby games and tournaments, said Bicego.
He stated that Yreka's game fields are not strategically located, so it is difficult for tournaments to be held locally. Many sports tournaments are held at venues outside the area.
If tournaments were held in Yreka, Bicego said this would bring tourists and their dollars to local hotels and restaurants in addition to raising Yreka's visibility as a health-conscious and family-friendly community.
Bicego said if this idea generates interest in the community and the council moves forward with planning, the city will seek a land donation, grants and donors for both the construction and maintenance of the facility.
He said his hope is that local business owners will step forward to sponsor a field, and in turn, the field will be named after their business.
"It is not like we are a very rich city and I am very aware of other city needs," said Bicego. However, he commented that he believes the need and benefits of such a facility is well worth the effort to research its feasibility.
Yreka City Manager Steve Baker stated that he anticipates city staff will complete the information gathering early next month, and he will report back to the council.
City staff will contact officials in Phoenix, Ore. and Klamath Falls, Ore. where sports complex facilities have been successfully established. In addition, city staff will research the costs of sports complex construction and maintenance in other California cities, said Baker.
Community members who wish to lend their input on the proposed sports complex may attend a meeting and address the council during the public comment period (which is held at the beginning of each meeting). The Yreka City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in City Council Chamber at 701 Fourth St., Yreka.
In addition, citizens may mail letters to the Yreka City Council to the above address.


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The company "had no control or influence over the research" . . . .
Posted by The Situationist Staff on March 30, 2008
Anyone following the tobacco industry revelations of the early 1990s knows about the industry's diabolical strategies for influencing science. More specifically, as Stanton Glantz has written, the industry "encouraged scientific research to refute the scientific evidence about tobacco, to perpetuate controversy about the health effects of tobacco, and to provide results that could be used to respond to adverse publicity." What fewer people realize is that at least some cigarette manufacturers may still be engaged in some of their old practices — influencing the situation of research. That is the possibility raised in Gardner Harris's article last week in the New York Times, "Cigarette Company Paid for Lung Cancer Study," excerpted below.
* * *
In October 2006, Dr. Claudia Henschke of Weill Cornell Medical College jolted the cancer world with a study saying that 80 percent of lung cancer deaths could be prevented through widespread use of CT scans.
Small print at the end of the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, noted that it had been financed in part by a little-known charity called the Foundation for Lung Cancer: Early Detection, Prevention & Treatment. A review of tax records by The New York Times shows that the foundation was underwritten almost entirely by $3.6 million in grants from the parent company of the Liggett Group, maker of Liggett Select, Eve, Grand Prix, Quest and Pyramid cigarette brands.
The foundation got four grants from the Vector Group, Liggett's parent, from 2000 to 2003.
Dr. Jeffrey M. Drazen, editor in chief of the medical journal, said he was surprised. "In the seven years that I've been here, we have never knowingly published anything supported by" a cigarette maker, Dr. Drazen said.
An increasing number of universities do not accept grants from cigarette makers, and a growing awareness of the influence that companies can have over research outcomes, even when donations are at arm's length, has led nearly all medical journals and associations to demand that researchers accurately disclose financing sources.
Dr. Henschke was the foundation president, and her longtime collaborator, Dr. David Yankelevitz, was its secretary-treasurer. Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of Weill Cornell, and Arthur J. Mahon, vice chairman of the college board of overseers, were directors.
Vector issued a press release on Dec. 4, 2000, saying that it intended to give $2.4 million to Weill Cornell to finance Dr. Henschke's research. Articles in Business Week and USA Today mentioned the gift. No mention was made of the foundation, begun so hastily that its 2000 tax return stated "not yet organized."
Paul Caminiti, a Vector spokesman, confirmed that the company donated $3.6 million to the foundation over three years. The company "had no control or influence over the research," he said.
Prominent cancer researchers and journal editors, told of the foundation by The Times, said they were stunned to learn of Dr. Henschke's association with Liggett. Cigarette makers are so reviled among cancer advocates and researchers that any association with the industry can taint researchers and bar their work from being published.
"If you're using blood money, you need to tell people you're using blood money," said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. The society gave Dr. Henschke more than $100,000 in grants from 2004 to 2007, money it would not have provided had it known of Liggett's grants, Dr. Brawley said.
In an e-mail message, Drs. Henschke and Yankelevitz wrote, "It seems clear that you are trying to suggest that Cornell was trying to conceal this gift, which is entirely false."
"The gift was announced publicly, the advocacy and public health community knew about it, it is quite easy to look it up on the Internet, its board has independent Cornell faculty on it, and it was fully disclosed to grant funding organizations," they wrote, adding that the Vector grant represented a small part of the study's overall cost. The foundation no longer accepts grants from tobacco companies, they wrote.
In the Vector press release, Dr. Henschke was quoted as saying that, thanks to the Vector grants, "we have raised the initial funding needed to support this important research and data collection on the effectiveness of spiral CT screening."
Dr. Gotto said in an interview that Dr. Henschke, Dr. Yankelevitz and another colleague set up the foundation initially without the university's approval, which he said faculty members are allowed to do. He and Mr. Mahon joined the board some weeks or months after its creation to ensure that the Vector grants were handled correctly, he said.
"If we had been approached, we would not have set up the foundation," Dr. Gotto said. "We would have accepted the gift directly. We think we behaved honorably. There was no attempt to set up a foundation to hide tobacco money."
Days earlier, Andrew Ben Ami, assistant secretary of the foundation, said in an interview he would not disclose the source of the charity's financing at the request of the university.
In another interview before Dr. Gotto agreed to speak, Mr. Mahon, another foundation director, said he did not know the source of the funds.
Dr. Robert C. Young, chancellor of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and chairman of the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute, said he had never heard of the Vector grants. "As someone who really hung around the inner sanctum of cancer research, I have never heard anybody — anybody — ever say anything about this," Dr. Young said.
Dr. Jerome Kassirer, a former editor of The New England Journal of Medicine and the author of a book about conflicts of interest, said he believed that Weill Cornell had created the foundation to hide its receipt of money from a cigarette company. "You have to ask yourself the question, 'Why did the tobacco company want to support her research?' " Dr. Kassirer said. "They want to show that lung cancer is not so bad as everybody thinks because screening can save people; and that's outrageous."
* * *"She's the biggest advocate for widespread spiral CT screening," said Dr. Paul Bunn, a lung cancer expert and executive director of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. "And now her research is tainted."
Corporate financing can have subtle effects on research and lead to unconscious bias. Studies have shown that sponsored research tends to reach conclusions that favor the sponsor, which is why disclosure is encouraged. The tobacco industry has a long history of underwriting research — sometimes through independent-sounding foundations — to make cigarettes seem less dangerous.
* * *
Universities are responsible for policing conflicts of interest and, in many cases, the required disclosures of their faculty. But Weill Cornell shared in the proceeds of Dr. Henschke's patent and pending patents, and university officials were on the foundation board.
"We have a very strict oversight policy" for conflicts of interest, Dr. Gotto of Weill Cornell said. He dismissed any suggestion that the university could not police and benefit from faculty members' financial deals.
But Dr. Kassirer said, "The problem is that universities, because they're so conflicted themselves, ignore the conflicts of interest of their faculty."
Legislation being considered in Congress would require drug and device makers to post registries of payments to doctors.
An increasing number of doctors and institutions are setting up foundations to accept money from companies without having to disclose its source, said Dr. Murray Kopelow, chief executive of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
"This is the third time in the past few weeks that one of these has been identified to us," said Dr. Kopelow, whose organization is investigating how widespread the practice is.
* * *
To read the entire article, click here. For a sample of related Situationist posts, see "Deep Capture – Part VII," "Promoting Smoking through Situation," "Industry-Funded Research," "Industry-Funded Research – Part II," and "Captured Science."
One Response to "The company "had no control or influence over the research" . . . ."
August 19, 2008 at 6:24 am
I am an author of a photo you use in this article, actually this is my self-portrait you took from my FLICKR photostream. I understand it is used in good intentions – to visualize people smoking subject you refer to.
But, anyway – I would prefer not to be used as a SMOKER example, especially that this is happening without my knowledge.
I would appreciate your immediate action.